Hatch and First Pac West sign joint venture agreement to provide better solutions for remote workforces and communities

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 11, 2015 /CNW/ – Hatch, Canada’s top privately-held design firm, and First Pac West, a Canadian Aboriginal company that provides housing and accommodation solutions to the resource, infrastructure, healthcare, and non-governmental organization (NGO) sectors, have today signed a joint venture (JV) agreement.

The agreement outlines the beginning of a strategic relationship between Hatch and First Pac West to jointly provide a better solution to remote living conditions for project workforces in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors around the world—as well as wherever communities require recreational, educational, and disaster relief facilities. The agreement is supported by The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).

“Joint ventures between Aboriginal businesses like First Pac West and engaged corporate citizens such as Hatch truly signal that new business certainty is and can flourish when partnerships are meaningful and equitable,” stated JP Gladu, president and chief executive officer of CCAB. “The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business applauds this exciting new joint venture and looks forward to celebrating their continued business success.”

The five-year agreement will allow Hatch and First Pac West to pursue mutually beneficial opportunities and expand both companies’ capabilities and service lines. The signing of the partnership was developed through discussions between First Pac West and Hatch’s site deployment group, a team of ex–Canadian Forces members that specialize in site deployment strategies.

“We are very pleased to be signing this joint venture agreement with First Pac West,” said John Bianchini, chief executive officer of Hatch.

“This new agreement will revolutionize how a workforce is mobilized to a project site and will enhance Hatch’s ability to provide safe, secure, and sustainable projects in even the most remote locations,” added Robert Francki, global managing director of Hatch’s project delivery group.

Peter Molander, chief executive officer of First Pac West, echoed the sentiments. “With Hatch’s proven abilities in engineering, procurement, and construction management, and First Pac West’s innovative site accommodation solution, the Solace System, we have great expectations for the differentiated products and services we can now offer together,” explained Molander.

The innovative Solace System features an outer, climate-controlled biosphere, which is contained within a tension fabric membrane, accompanied by interior cross-laminated timber modules used for living quarters, offices, and more. Structures can be scaled up or down depending on the needs of the project. Modules, as well as the fabric membrane, can be repurposed after completion of the project. The new system is also approximately 25% more energy efficient than traditional site accommodation facilities. First Pac West has an exclusivity agreement with Sprung Structures, the provider of the Solace System’s tension fabric membrane, which has been well-proven to last over 25 years or the life-span of most projects.

The signing of the partnership agreement is an important step in addressing the often poor site accommodation standards around the world. These conditions can affect the recruitment, retention, and productivity of a skilled labor force on project sites, which is a critical issue in the development of mining, energy, and infrastructure projects.

About Hatch: Hatch is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary professional services firm that delivers a comprehensive array of technical and strategic services, including consulting, information technology, engineering, process development, and project and construction management to the Mining, Metallurgical, Energy, and Infrastructure sectors. Hatch has served clients for over six decades with corporate roots extending over 100 years and has project experience in more than 150 countries around the world. With over 10,000 people in over 65 offices, the firm has more than $35 billion in projects currently under management.

About First Pac West: First Pac West provides housing and accommodation solutions to the resource, infrastructure, healthcare, and NGO sectors. Their patented Solace System is a uniquely engineered high-quality living environment that provides cost-effective accommodation and recreation structures for any location around the world. As an Aboriginal company established in 2010, First Pac West actively engages with First Nations, local communities, and industry partners to identify and realize opportunities for environmental and community benefits.